Improvement in methods of treating raw hides



UNITED STATES PATN Orr'ron.

H. W. SOUTHWORTH, OF SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE DARBOW MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT.

lMPROVEMENT lN METHODS OF TREATING RAW HIDES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 128,938, dated July 9, 1872.

Specification describing an Improved Process for Treating Raw Hide, invented by H.

W. SOUTHWORTH, of Springfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts.

My invention consists in the application of glycerine to raw hide for the purpose of giving it a better and more plastic nature when moist,

--various other articles.

As heretofore treated, so far as my knowledge extends, raw hide will warp and lose form, and when dry becomes quite hard and indurate. In order to apply glycerine to raw hide, I first soak the hides in water from eight to fifteen hours, according to their previous condition, as thin, thick, soft, hard, limed, or unlimed. In all cases they should be soaked until fully saturated with water, and when so saturated I immerse them in glycerine and let them remain therein, absorbing the glycerine from eight hours to five days, or until the hides have absorbed sufficient glycerine to render them more or less pliable, according to the uses for which they are afterwards designed. The hides are then ready to cut up into horseshoe pads or other articles; .or if desired the hides may be dried before cutting until the little water that may be in them has evaporated. By raw hide I mean hides of neat cattle, &c., which contain no tannin, or so little of it that they may be successfully used in the manufacture of sizing and glue. When the gelatinous matter in the hide is treated with tannin they are no longer raw hide,but leather.

I claim as my invention- 1. The process of applying glycerine to raw hide, substantially as herein set forth.

2. Articles of raw hide, when rendered soft and pliable by the application of glycerine,

substantially as described.

H. W. SOUTHWORTH. Witnesses:

J 0 EN A. HALL, SIDNEY SANDERS. 

